Elevator-door locking and controlling device.



P. F FOLEY.

ELEVATOR DOOR LOCKiNG AND CONTROLUNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. I915.

Patenfed May 2, 1916.

2 SHEETSMSHEET I.

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'of the borough of Brooklyn, county of PATRICK l3. FOLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELEVATOR-DOOR LOCKING AND CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters-yatent.

I Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed May 15, 1915. Serial 110.28,.261.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK, F. Ferny, a citizen of the United States, and resident Kings, city and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful invention Relating to Elevator-Door Locking and vator .door locking and control devices which may comprise shaft door locking dev1ces,

automatically released under these conditlons by providing an automatic release including an angularcatch mounted on the shaft door, for example, and a cooperating locking bolt, mounted adjacent the door opening and preferably provided with cushioning and detent devices which may hold the parts in locked position until released. This lock may have associated therewith a normally closed door switch which is opened when the .bolt or associated members are in lockingposition so as to release under these conditions controller locking devices which may be used to prevent the operation of the lever or other operating device of the elevator car after it has been brought to a shaft opening and the doors opened. The locking device for the shaft door may be magnet on the carconnected to suitable cams or releasing devices which are adapted to release the lock when the elevator car is opposite this particular door opening when this releasing magnetis actuated by bringing the elevator operating lever into its shut-off position.

In the accompanying drawings showing in a somewhat diagrannnatic way illustrative embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 3-3 of Fig. :2; and Fig. 4: is'a detail side elevation of the cam releasing devices. i

As shownin the illustrative drawing the elevator car 1 may be mounted. in any suit able wayin the shaft and provided with cooperating hoisting cables or devices of any desired description. A suitable car gate 2 of any desired character may be mounted on the car and the door openings at the various floors may be provided with suitable shaft doors of any desired type, such as the horizontally sliding door 515, mounted on hangers engaging the track 99 of any suitable construction so as to slide back. The cooperating door locking devices which may with advantage be mounted on the upper end of the door and the cooperating door casing .98 as shown in greater detail in Fig. 2 may comprise an angularly arranged door catch of any desired description cooperating with a suitable locking member which preferably is spring pressed or otherwise normally held in position to receive they catch as the door closes, a cushioning device being, if desired, associated with the locking member so as to cushion the closing action of the door and minimize jar and noise, while at the same time the door is locked against withdrawal as soon as the angular catch and locking member engage.

The catch 62 may as indicated in Fig. 2,

be provided with an angularly arranged slot 56 and may be mounted either on the door or casing, although as shown it is bolted or otherwise secured adjacent the upper end of the door 05. The cooperating locking member may be in the form of a locking roll -57 mounted on the lockingslide or bolt 66 mounted in suitable guides, such as 78, in a lock casing 28, which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the'elevator shaft adjacent the door opening. This lock ng bolt may be provided with a suitable cushioning device as by forming cushioning plunger 69 on the end of the stem 68 of the bolt and providing a cotiperating cushioning cylinder 71 in which this plunger fits with sullicient-tightncss and which may be filled with any suitable cushioning fluid 72, such as oil, glycerin or air in some cases. One or more restricted throttling passages, such as 70, may be formed in this plunger to allow the passage of the cushioning 'tluid, therethrough and give the desired cushion ing action, and it. is insome cases desirable to provide a quick return valve of any suitable description in this plunger or in connection therewith, such as the valve 102, normally held by its cooperating spring 103 over the enlarged return passage 101 in the plunger, but adapted to open and allow the freer passage of the cushioning fluid as the locking bolt moves upward. This desirable to have this locking bolt returned by any suitable means, such as the return spring 67, to its upper receiving position where it is adapted to enter the end of the slot in the door catch and a suitable alining device, such as the alining bolt and lock nut 104 may be used to adjust this normal re.

. 75 may be mounted in any desired way adjacent the bolt so as to cooperate with the series of ratchet teeth 74 on the bolt. This detent may be mounted on the detent bar collar 81 secured to the detent bar. way when the shaft door is closed the slotted 76 carried in suitable sliding hearings or yokes 78 mounted in the lock casing. and preferably formed with means to prevent its undesirable rotation which may be conveniently effected by forming one end of the detent bar 100 of square or polygonal crosssection. The detent spring 9 may normally force the detent into holding engagement' with the ratchet on the locking bolt as by engaging a washer 80 cooperating with a In this doorcatc-h engages the locking roll during the lastfew inches of the doors travel and forces the roll and connectcd'locking bolt downward, the ratchet teeth slipping past the detent, but preventing any backward mo'ement so that the door catch is locked against retraction as soon as any substantial engagement with the locking member takes place. At the same time the closing move: ment of the door is retarded or cushioned as soon as the catch and locking member engage, by the cushioning plunger and cylinder described and also by the return spring 67 which resists this movement,so that under normal conditions the closing impact of the door is considerably reduced and the door iseffectively held in closed or substantially closed position because the locking bolt holds just as effectively whether the roll has entirely or partly reached the end of theslot 56. The locking device may be released in any suitable way, either auto matically or manually,, as for example, a manual releasing lever such as 53 may be mounted on the shaft door so as to swing about the pivot 52 when operated by the handle 51.. The upper slotted end of this lever may engage a suitable pin 61 on the releasing bolt 54 which may as indicated be mounted in the guides or brackets secured to the door in such position as to be substantially in line with the ergtension 59 of the detent bar which may project through a suitable slot in the locking bolt and extend outside the lock casing. In this ,way the releasing lever may force back the detent extension and detent so as to release the locking bolt and allow its return under the action of the return spring and the opening door, the releasing lever being so arranged that by pulling it in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 the locking bolt is released and the door simultaneously opened by the same movement. If desired, also, the lock may be released from outside the shaft door by providing a suitable release key, such as 63, revolubly mounted on the bracket 64 and having its end projecting through a suitable slot 65 in the door so as to be engaged by a key or opening device and rotate the releasing arm 58 sufliciently to force back the detent extension 59 and release the detent from the bolt inthe same manner, thus providing an emergency release of the parts which is desirable for some purposes.

It is sometimes desirable to provide an automatic releasing arrangement on the elevator car so that when the car is in proper cooperation with the door opening the locking device may be automatically released and in some cases it is also of advantage to arrange a suitable controller in connection with the operating device of the car, so that when the operator has opened either the shaft door or car gate, or both, which may of course be either of the horizontally or vertically sliding or swinging type, it is impossible to actuate the operating mechanism of the car which may be of any description, such as an electric operating lever or a hydraulic or other operating lever, or the well known operating rope. For this purpose the locking device may be provided with a suitable releasing member or contact arm cooperating with a cam or releasing device carried by the elevator car which may, if desired, be automatically actuated when the car is stopped at one of the door openings so as to release the lock under these conditions. An illustrative arrangement of this character is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as comprising the releasing contact arm 83. mounted on the detent bar and having a suitable cam portion cooperating with the angular or cam face on the collar 81 so. that when this releasing arm isswung mward against its spring 97 as by contact between. theca'm 24 and the roll 27 on this contact arm the cam action forces the detent barbackward so that the ratchet and detent are disengaged and the roll locking device is released. Thiscam may be mounted on the car in any suitso that when this handle is moved-by the;

operator so as to turn about its pivot 38 the connected releasing. bar acts 'on the bell action mav, however, be rendered automatic by an electric or other connection with the operatin device which runs the car and this is shown in Fig. 1 as comprising the electric controller circuit casing to which suitable power wires 5 are connected in the usual wav. so that when the operating device 13 is operated the car moves up and down the shaft. A connection 115 may be made with the iieut'ral or one of the other power wires so as to energize a contact segment or cam 116 on the operating device which is normally in engagement with the contact spring or device 118 when the operating handle or device is in its neutral or shut-off position indicated. Underthese circumstances current flows from this connection 115 and the contacts referred to into the release circuit wire 18 so as to operate the release magnet or solenoid 29 and thus raise its armature against the cam return spring 80 and raise the connected release bar 37 so as to project the release cam 24 by the mechanism referred to. This release circuit may also comprise the wire 119 which may if desired be connected through a suitable reducing. resistance 19 and the wire 20 which may lead to the power or other electric'wires supplying the car in any desired way.

It is also of advantage in some cases to have asuitable controller coiiperating with the elevator operating device so as to lock it in inoperative or stopping position after the car'has been brought to a stop at one of the door openings until either the shaft door or car gate have been again closed. An illustrative arrangement of this. character is shown in Fig. l as comprising the controller lock 11 cooperating with a suitable locking notch, such as 12,- on the operating device of the car which may if desired be etlected by pivoting this controller lock about the pin 10 in a suitablecasing or frame secured to the car in any desired way. The extension or operating arm 9 of this lock may harve a pin and slot or other operating connection with the stem 48 of the armature or core of a suitable electromagnet or solenoid 49 which draws this stem to the left against the action ofthe releasing spring 50 when the operating current flows through this controller magnet, thus simultaneously opening the connected automatic control power switch 8 in the series connection 7 of the power circuit of the elevator. This controller circuit may comprise anysuitable source of electric- .ity and may if desired. be connected with the lighting circuit of the elevator car which may comprisethe lighting wires 6 supplying the lamp 141. The wire 20 may be connected with oneof these lighting wires and as 90, shown in Fig. 2.

may be in circuit with a suitable resistance 19 and connected with one end of the controller magnet 49 and the wire115 connected to the. other end of this magnet may be in circuit with suitable automatic switches which are opened to break the controller circuit when the shaft door or car gate or both are shut. This controller circuit compris' ing the wire 15 may be connected to the wire 22 leading to one of the blades d2 of the gate switch which comprises the switch member 40 normally held closed in contact with these switch members 42 by the spring ll. When, however, the car gate 2 is entirely or substantially shut anysuitable projection 3 on the gate engages the upper end of the gate switch 40 and swings it about its pivot $23 so as to disengage it from the blades or contacts 42 and thus openthe controller circuit at this point. This denergizes the controller magnet 49 and allows its return spring 50 to retract the controller lock from engagement with the operating device so that the elevator can again be operated. This controller circuit may also comprise either in addition to orinstead of the gate switch a. suitable lock or door switch, such may be arranged in shunt around the gate switch so as to render it inoperative, if desired, and this cut-out may comprise the wire 124 connected to the wire 22 adjacent the gate switch and the cut-out switch 123 adapted to be swung into contact with the wire 23 so as to short-circuit this gate switch. This door switch or contact lever may be pivoted about the point 91 and may have a suitable insulated contact 92 adju'stably or otherwise mounted in the switch member in such position as to be engaged by A cut-out device.

time the door is locked this switch moves in 4 the direction of the arrows so as to separate the switch contacts 89 and break the controller circuit at this point. For this arrangement the controller circuit may comprise the wire 23 leading in any way to the controller magnet as through the contacts 42 shown in Fig. 1, this wire 23 being connected to the releasingl contact cam 24 of conducting metal which is preferably insulated from its cam-bracket 34. When in engagement with the releasing contact arm 83 this contact then supplies electricity there-- the corresponding contact cam of similar construction. The wire 45 connected to this cam 25 may be connected with the wire 21 leading to the wire of the lighting circuit 6 so as to complete the controller circuit. If desired also, an extension of this wire 45 may be connected with a suitable storageor primary battery 47 when the switch 416 is closed, thus closing the circuit between this battery and the wires 44, 45 so as to operate the controller circuit from this auxiliary battery in case of any trouble in the car lighting circuit. \Vhen the controller circuit passes through the contact arms 83, 84, they are of course insulated from each other, as for instance by the use of an insulating sleeve 77 between the arms and the detent bar and by the use of interposed insulating washers, such as 82, 85, to space the arms apart. For some purposes it is desirable to-have a suit able indicator connected with this controller.

circuit so as to insure its proper operation and for this purpose a suitable pilot light 17 may be connected in shunt around the controller magnet by the wire 16 so that this pilot light is illuminated whenever the magnet is energized, thus instantly calling attention to any trouble in the supply connections of this circuit. It is thus apparent that when the elevator is brought to a stop at any of the shaft openings and the operating device 13 moved into its shutoff position indicated in Fig. 1 the release circuit is'automatically closed so that the release cams are thus forced outward into their active position by the release magnet 29 which is included in this release circuit ;so as to be energized. This releases the locking bolt and allows the shaft door to be opened and when this is done and the door switch 90 and gate switch 40 are closed this closes the controller circuit and automatically energizes the controller magnet 49 so that the controller lock 11 is then operated so as to lock the operating device 13 in its shut-off position and prevent'operation of the car in either direction until either the shaft door or the car gate is closed. The controller may also actually break the power circuit as by having one or more of the power wires connected in series with the extensions 7 which are connected to switch contacts cooperating with the controller power switch 8 which may be connected to the controller stem so as to open the switch when the controller magnet is actuated. Also when the cut-out 123 is closed the position of the car gate no longer affects this controller circuit and it then becomes necessary to close the shaft door before the controller lock is released and-thecar-can again be operated.

ThlS invention has been descrlbed 1n connection with a number of illustrative em-' 1. In elevator door locking and control devices, shaft door locking devices comprising an angular catch mounted on the shaft door, a locking member mounted adjacent the door opening and having locklng engagement with said catch-to lock said door throughout a considerable extent of its closing movement, a normally closed door switch which is opened by said member when it is in locking position, a detent normally holding said member in locking position, releasing devices for said detent comprising projecting releasing contact arms connected with said door switch, releasing contact cams mounted on the elevator car,-

a releasing magnet for projecting said contact cams into engagement with said releasing arms when the car is opposite a shaft opening, a releasing circuit comprising said releasing magnet and a contact device connected to the operating device for the elevator so as to actuate said releasing magnet and automatically release said locking member when the operating device is in shut off position, a controller lock cooperating with said operating device and adapted to come into locking engagement therewith when said operating device is in shut=off position, a controller magnet to actuate said controller look when said controller magnet is energized, a normally closed gate switch mounted on saidcar and adapted to be opened by the car gate when it is shut, and acontroller circuit comprising said controller magnet and said contact cams and door switch and said gate switch to prevent .theprematiire movement of said elevator operating device.

2. In elevator door locking and control devices, shaft doorlocking devices comprising an angular catch mounted on the shaft door, a locking member mounted adjacent the door opening and having locking engagement with said catch to lock said door throughout a considerable extent of its clos ing movement, a normally closed door switch which is opened by said member when it is in locking position, a detent noradapted to come into locking engagement therewith when said operating device is in meters closed gate switch mounted on said car and adapted to be opened by the car gate when it is shut, and a controller circuit comprising said controller magnet and said door switch and said gate switch to prevent the premature movement of said elevator oper ating device.

3. In elevator door locking and control devices, shaft door locking devices comprising a catch mounted on the shaft door, a locking bolt member mounted adjacent the door opening and having locking engagement with said catch to lock said door throughout a conside "able extent of its closing movement, a normally closed door switch which is operated by said member when itis in looking position, a detent normally holding said member 'in locking position, releasing devices for said detent compri ing projecting releasing contact arms connected. with said door switch,-releasing con.- tact cams mounted on the elevator car to be normally carried thereby freely past said contact arms, a releasing magnet for projecting said contact cams into engagement with said releasing arms to mechanically release said detent when the car is opposite a shaft opening, a releasing circuit comprising said releasing magnet and a contact device connected to the operating device for the elevator so as to actuate said releasing magnet and automatically release said locking member when they operating device is moved into shut-off position, a controller lock cotiperating with said operating device and adapted to come into locking engagement therewith when said operating device is in shutoff position, a controller magnet to actuate said controller lock, and a controller circuit comprising said controller magnet and said contact cams and door switch to prevent the premature movement of said elevator operatlng device.

41- In elevator door locking and control devices, shaft door locking devices compris" ing a catch mounted on the shaft door, a locking member mounted adjacent the door opening and having locking engagement with said catch to lock said-door, normally closed door switch which is operated by said member when it is in locking position, a detent normally holding said member in looking position, releasing devices forsaid detent comprising projecting releasing contact arms connected with said door switch, releasing contact cams mounted on the elevator to be normally carried there by freely past said contact arms, a releasing magnet for projecting said contact cams into engagement with said releasing arms to mechanically release said detent when the elevator is opposite a shaft opening, a releasing circuit comprising said releasing magnet and a contact device connected to the operating device for the elevator so as to actuate. said releasing magnet and automatically release said locking member when the operating device is moved into shut-oif position, a controller lock cooperating with said operating device and adapted to come into locking engagement therewith when said operating device is in shut-01f position, a controller magnet to actuate said control- 101' lock, and a controller circuit comprising said controller magnet and said contact cams and door switch to prevent the premature movement of said elevator operating device.

5.'In elevator door locking and control devices, shaft door locking devices comprising a catch mounted on the elevator door, a locking bolt mounted adjacent the door opening, a normally closed door switch which is opened by said bolt when it is in locking position, a detent normally holding said bolt in locking position, releasing devices for said detent, a releasing device and cooperating releasing circuit comprising a contact device" connected to the operating device for the elevator so as to automatically release said locking bolt when the operating deviceis in shut-off position, a controller lock cooperating with said operating device and adapted to" come into locking engagement therewith when said operating device is in shut-oil position, a controller magnet to actuate said controller lock, a control power switch in the power circuit for said car connected to said controller magnet to be opened when. said controller magnet is energized and a controller circuit comprising said controller magnet and said door switch to prevent the movement of said elevator operating device until said shaft door has been closed.

6. In elevator door locking and control devices, shaft door locking devices comprising a *atch mounted on the shaft door, a. locking member mounted adjacent the door opening, a normally closed door switch which is opened by said locking member when it is in locking position, a detent normally holding said bolt in looking position, releasing devices for said detent, a releasing device and coiiperating releasing circuit comprising a contact device connected to the operating device for the elevator so as to automatically release said locking member when the operating device is in shut-off position, a controller lock cooperating with said operating device and adapted to come into locking engagement therewith when said operating device is in shut-elf position, a controller magnet to actuate said controller lock and a controller circuit comprising said controller magnet and said door switch to prevent the movement of said elevator operating device until said shaft door has been closed.

7. In elevator door locking and control devices, door locking devices comprising a locking device, a normally closed door switch which is opened by said locking device when it is in locking position, a detent normally holding said device in locking position, releasing devices for said locking device comprising a releasing magnet adapted to act when the elevator is opposite a shaft opening, a releasing circuit comprising said releasing magnet and a contact device con nected to the operating device for the elevator so as to actuate said releasing magnet and automatically release said locking device when the elevator operating device is in shut-011' position, a controller lock cooperating with said operating device and adapted to come into locking engagement therewith when said operating device is in shat-oil position, a controller spring normally holding said controller lock in disengaged position, a controller magnet to actuate said controller lock when said controller devices mounted on the elevator to be menu ally actuated to release said detent when the elevator is stopped at the corresponding door opening and a controller cooperating with the operating devices for the elevator and connected to said door switch to prevent 0peration of the elevator while said door switch is closed.

PATRICK F. FOLEY. \Vitnesses HARRY H. DUNCAN, J ESSIE B. KAY. 

